Dhaka: A closed door meeting at Dorchester hotel in London has once again set the political scenario on fire in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have agreed on potential election dates. Following a meeting in London with BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, Yunus announced that elections could be held by mid-February 2026, possibly before Ramzan, if reforms progress sufficiently.

“The Chief Adviser said that he has announced that the elections will be held by the first half of February next year,” a joint statement released after the meeting noted. “If all preparations are completed, the elections could be held even in the week before the start of Ramzan in 2026.”

The London meeting, which took place in a neutral and cordial atmosphere, marked the first direct engagement between the two sides. According to people familiar with the discussions, both parties expressed a willingness to negotiate and remain flexible.

“This was the ice-breaker everyone was waiting for,” said a senior official........

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